From DURMITOR National Park to KOTOR

The must : 2 great sites of Unesco in guided tour
Travel style Accompanied hiking trip
Activity level3/4

FROM 674 euros :

 

This program is a bit sporty but not extreme, and offers mountain lovers cool hikes while taking their time, and offering days full of discoveries. 

– Authentic travel and joy of living on the farm by the unadulterated places, and the meetings with our village acquaintances along the mountain villages (where all the aperitifs are offered, and difficult to refuse).

– Climbing the summit of the park and the country, the Bobotov at 2523 m.

– 2 days of charm in the Fjord of Kotor and Perast to enjoy the UNESCO sites, combining walking and discovery.

– Less travel by vehicle to encourage taking the time to enjoy the various places.

The PLUS : 

– A base for hiking from Obradovic’s farm, and share their life for 5 days

– A la carte hikes with sharp peaks, mountain lakes to swim in, and conviviality

– Rest, walks (or hikes) in Kotor, on the Adriatic Sea

 

+ INCLUDED

– The services of a French-speaking guide during the trip

– Full board accommodation, except lunches on D1 and D8 and dinner on D7.

– All transfers and entries in the national parks.

– Our assistance on site 24 hours a day

 

– NOT INCLUDED

– International flights.

– Airport taxes (international)

– Repatriation assistance/insurance

– Lunches on D1 and D8 and dinner on D7.

– Entrance fees to museums and monasteries

– Drinks and personal expenses

– Tips

Over the last 15 years, we have selected and kept the most beautiful loop hikes in Durmitor National Park, which pass off the paths marked by the old villages, with many possible variations.

Day 1: Drive to Durmitor Park

Meeting at Podgorica airport. ½ hour later we leave for the northern mountains in P.N Durmitor at the Obradovic’s, where Payo our host is waiting for us with a garnished aperitif.

We will be staying in a farmhouse, at the gates of the national park, with a family from the villages on the banks of the Tara Canyon. Hikes and walks in stars, with return to the lodging in the evening. Traditional products and dishes of the guaranteed country, and always cooked in the wood stove of our hostess Tsana. True responsible tourism, fair, friendly and authentic, where the main supplier is the vegetable garden for the greens, and his cousin for the meat. 

Lodging: full board accommodation in a farmhouse for 5 nights

Day 2: Hiking the Salijeme ridges

Departure by the high altitude hamlets to make a superb loop passing by the crests of Strmna, by the lake of Oko. Splendid panorama all along the circuit. Descending through the forest of hundred-year-old spruce trees to reach the lake of Novoselj. Fresh break at the lake where our vehicle is waiting for us. At the end of the day we go to the Black Lake, the reference lake for all those who go to Durmitor.

Detour in “town” to have  a drink before returning to our farm.

 (approx. 5h walk, D+ 450m, D-600m, loop hike)

Lodging at Tsana’s farm, home-made dinner.

Day 3 : Hiking in the confines of the Tara and Priva canyons

At first sight in these authentic landscapes the director Emir Kusturica could appear at any moment, so much the improbable situations can sometimes follow one another. The alpine pastures of Jakičevići are enclosed between the national park and 2 deep canyons, at nearly 1000 meters. Life here emerges from the wintering when the snow melts and the road reopens, and if we are caught, we will hardly pass without a nice shot of Rakija. Apart from the farmers, there is still a nice population of small brown bears, whose tracks are very often found on the side of canyons, but can be seen more easily in spring. We will make a nice walk accessible to all, with a little distance and which remains easy to walk, on a not karstic ground, while skirting the canyon Tara, then that of Šurička.

We return to our lodge for an aperitif and dinner at Tsana.

(approx. 5h walk, D+ 600, D-600m, loop hike)

Day 4 : hike to Vukčina the glacial heart of Durmitor mountain

Few alpinists are still present in the heart of the massif because of its remoteness, but we will meet Vuk or his son Pero. They are in the heart of an ancient glacial cirque at the crossroads of three hiking valleys. We will stop at the sheepfold to refresh ourselves. From there, we have the choice to continue to climb to the Bear Peak, where we can reach the upper pass, or to go back to the abandoned katun of Lokrnjice, before starting the descent through the interesting karstic maze under the back of the ridges, to arrive at the Black Lake (finally!) There we can take a dip and swim depending on the weather.

We will head back to the gite for another gastronomic surprise, and before that the aperitif. 

(5h walk, D+ 700, D-700m, loop hike)

Day 5: hike to Bobotov Kuk, THE country’s legendary peak

Via the western side of the massif, we reach B.K 2522 (2523 m according to some!), the highest point of the trip, after crossing 2 passes. Changing alpine landscapes, and a succession of valleys to reach the rocky base of the BK, with its superbly sculpted rocky serrations on either side. The summit is a real scramble to reach the summit platform. Picnic at 2522 meters. Descend to complete the loop through the remarkable geological folds of the Sharene Kobile, which accompany us to the end of the tour, where the vehicle awaits. The ever-changing landscapes of this part of the massif will not leave you unmoved. The folds are truly characteristic, even unique. Not to be missed!

5H walk, D+ 850m, d- 900m, approx. 12 km crossing (possibility of a less difficult variant on the same hike).

On the way back, we’ll pass Potokcina lake and take a dip in Crayfish lake.

End of the day, return to the farm

Day 6: From the old capitals to the Lovcen Park, and hiking on Kotor

We leave our hosts and the Durmitor, with heavy hearts, while trying to avoid the traditional departure drinks ! We will take the direction of the fjord of Kotor. After crossing the north-south pampa, we arrive at the entrance of the fjord. From there, on foot we reach the Austrian fort of Stikmač overlooking the access channel 800 meters below. Breathtaking view on the whole Lovćen chain and up to the open sea. Back to the car and we transfer (30 min) to Kotor city, where we stay.

 We are well and truly gone from the mountains, and the urban atmosphere  is totally different from  the life of the north and the inhabitants that we just experienced.

Walking: 2h30 to go, 1h30 back, D+ 400m, D-400m.

Accommodation: small 3 star hotel near the old city walls, dinner included in the city

Day 7: Kotor, city of the Middle Ages

Morning in the heart of the city, then visit its medieval fortifications. We’ll take the roundabout way to discover these places with a very busy history. We will go through the schoolchildren’s path to reach the top of the fort and enter the ramparts through a hidden gunboat. We will go back down the famous “chemin de ronde” to the heart of the city. 

In the afternoon, visit of Perast with 16 bell towers and 2 alleys! Then we will take the boat to visit the church of Our Lady on its artificial islet in the middle of the fjord. 

A mandatory stop for a swim  in the sea by the village, we have also the option to swim back to Perast. We will return to Kotor by the end of the afternoon, to continue to discover the small secrets of this pearl, this until late in the evening depending of your levels of energy !

Possibility of swimming.

2nd night in Kotor in a small 3 star hotel, dinner in town

Day 8: Podgorica

Quiet morning, and according to your schedule we will propose to you an adapted program.

Transfer to Croatia and the airport of Podgorica or Tivat.

 Important remark: the hikes can be adapted according to your desires, and be more or less difficult and long.